How to Tend to a Giant Chinchilla Rabbit

Purchase a cage for your giant chinchilla that is at least four times the length of the rabbit when fully stretched out. The more space you give your chinchilla to move around, the happier it will be. Choose a cage that has either a slotted plastic floor or a solid floor. A wire floor will hurt your rabbit's delicate feet.

Set the cage in a cool, dry, draft-free place that is out of direct sunlight. Rabbits do not tolerate heat well and can easily overheat and die.

Make your chinchilla's cage and enjoyable place to live by lining the cage daily with newspaper or cardboard, giving your rabbit a soft place to sleep, such as a large box filled with hay and securing a piece of natural wood to the inside of the cage to give your rabbit something to chew on. Provide plenty of toys to keep your rabbit entertained.

Watch where your giant chinchilla eliminates and then place a litter box in that spot. Rabbits are creatures of habit and tend to do their business in the same spot.

Choose a dust-free litter made from alfalfa or paper.

Fill a heavy ceramic bowl that cannot be chewed with cool water and place it in your chinchilla's cage. Refill it regularly.

Feed your rabbit a mixture of hay, pellets and raw vegetables daily.

Adult rabbits (8 months old or older) should be fed unlimited hay, 2 cups of raw vegetables per 6 lbs. of body weight and 1/8 cup of pellets per 2 to 4 lbs. of body weight. Fresh fruit should be fed sparingly as a treat.

However, as each rabbit if different, it is important to monitor your rabbit's weight closely. If it feels too heavy, decrease the amount off food you feed it. If it gets too thin, increase the food.

Brush your giant chinchilla weekly with a slicker brush. Brushing may be required multiple times a week during heavy shedding periods. Rabbits shed every three months. Because rabbits lick themselves clean, regular brushing is necessary to prevent hair balls from forming in their digestive tracks, a condition that can be fatal.

Bunny-proof the areas of your home that your giant chinchilla will be allowed to roam free in. Move dangerous items, such as potentially toxic house plants, out of your rabbit's reach. Conceal electrical cords or wrap them in vinyl tubing to prevent your rabbit from chewing through them. Provide lots of toys to distract your rabbit from chewing on your furniture, rugs and drapes.

Spay or neuter your giant chinchilla between 4 and 6 months of age. Spaying and neutering decreases territory marking, aggressive behavior and chewing. It also increases the likelihood your rabbit will use its litter box.

Give your giant chinchilla lots of love, attention and exercise.